First settled in 1863, the same year the Territory of Arizona was established, Wickenburg is one of the oldest communities in the state. Like other towns that date from Arizona's territorial period, Wickenburg has witnessed a succession of inhabitants: Yavapai Indians, Mexicans, and Anglo Americans; miners, railroad men, and ranchers; guest ranch operators, tourists, and retirees.

Each group has left its peculiar imprint on the region, in the process transforming Wickenburg from a humble Anglo-Hispanic mining town into one of the Southwest's more exclusive retirement and tourist destinations.

The course of the town's history reflects many of the forces and events that have shaped communities across Arizona: the erratic growth and instability of its mining and ranching industries; the arrival of tourists, winter visitors, and new residents; and the struggle to promote economic diversification and growth while preserving the attractions of small-town life. The history of Wickenburg is, in many respects, that of every town in Arizona and the West.